Rodriquez gets 10-12 years

Willie Jackson III had grown weary of the street life and was looking to make a fresh start, according to his half brother, Carl Murphy of Fitchburg.

On Dec. 20, 2009, the 25-year-old Mr. Jackson contacted Mr. Murphy, who had been a surrogate father to him, and plans were made for him to move in with Mr. Murphy and his family and pursue a college education, Mr. Murphy told a judge Friday.

He said he knew Mr. Jackson was serious about wanting to turn his life around this time because he took full responsibility for the actions that had caused him to run afoul of the law on more than one occasion. In the past, he had blamed everyone but himself for his plight, according to Mr. Murphy.

His comments came during the sentencing hearing for 54-year-old Felix Rodriguez, who was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter Wednesday in the Dec. 22, 2009, stabbing death of Mr. Jackson. The victim suffered a single stab wound to the chest during a confrontation in a makeshift basement apartment at 25 Charlton St.

“He didn’t live a righteous life. I know that. But he was young. He didn’t kill or murder nobody,” Mr. Murphy said of Mr. Jackson.

Judge Tucker sentenced Mr. Rodriguez to a prison term of 10 to 12 years after rejecting defense lawyer John J. Roemer’s request that his client, who has been diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer and cirrhosis, be allowed to undergo a medical evaluation before the imposition of a sentence.

Mr. Roemer described Mr. Rodriguez as “a very sick individual” unlikely to live much longer. He told the court Mr. Rodriguez had spent more than three years in custody awaiting trial “in a lot of pain.”

Although he was given pain medication at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction, he did not receive the chemotherapy that a doctor had recommended for him, according to Mr. Roemer.

The defense lawyer asked that his client be evaluated by Dr. James McNamee, the last oncologist to see him, for an assessment of his life expectancy and a summary of any available treatment options before being sentenced. He said Dr. McNamee was on vacation and would not be returning until Feb. 28.

“If we’re going to send him to prison and they’re not going to treat his cancer, we’re sending him to a death sentence,” Mr. Roemer said.

Judge Tucker said he was aware of Mr. Rodriguez’s medical condition and was confident the state Department of Correction would provide him with proper medical care. He told Mr. Roemer he could file a motion to revise Mr. Rodriguez’s sentence if he was able to get input from Dr. McNamee.

Mr. Rodriguez had been charged with the murder of Mr. Jackson, but was found guilty by a jury of the lesser offense of manslaughter. He told police he stabbed Mr. Jackson after being attacked by him and another man, Tyrone Harris, and said all three were high on crack cocaine at the time.

Mr. Harris disputed Mr. Rodriguez’s account of the fatal stabbing. He testified that Mr. Rodriguez took off his clothes, brandished a knife and indicated he wanted to have sex with a woman who was present shortly after his arrival at the apartment. Mr. Jackson grabbed the knife away from Mr. Rodriguez and threw it across the room and Mr. Rodriguez stabbed Mr. Jackson after recovering the weapon, according to Mr. Harris.

Calling Mr. Jackson “a 25-year-old man who had three-quarters of his life ahead of him,” Assistant District Attorney Brett F. Dillon recommended that Mr. Rodriguez be sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison.

Mr. Roemer, who said his client’s prior criminal record included only a single assault and battery conviction, asked that Mr. Rodriguez be placed on probation.

“I’m really sorry for what happened. What happened is I tried to defend myself. I’m a family person, and I’ve been in jail for four years already,” Mr. Rodriguez said through a Spanish-speaking interpreter when offered a chance to address the court.

“I’m not saying that what my dad did was OK, but he’s a good man. … Please just give him a chance,” Mr. Rodriguez’s stepson, Edwin Rivera, said to Judge Tucker before the sentence was handed down.

Mr. Rodriguez was given credit for 1,158 days he had spent in custody in lieu of bail.